The rebels allege health reasons for not returning to the national team with Vilda

Emotional and health reasons are those used by the fifteen players of the national team who refuse to play with Spain while Jorge Vilda continues as the head of the absolute women’s team. This is made clear in the mail that the soccer players sent on Thursday, in a staggered but almost automatically followed way, to the headquarters of the Spanish Football Federation in the Ciudad del Fútbol de Las Rozas

In that document, the internationals detail that the latest events that have occurred in the Spanish team and the situation generated, according to them well known by President Luis Rubiales, are significantly affecting their emotional states and, therefore, their health.

“Due to all this, I currently do not see myself in a position to be a selectable player for our national team and for this reason I request not to be called up until this situation is reversed,” they add, one by one, in the message.

«My commitment to the team in the past, present and future was, is and will be absolute. And I am the first who wants to achieve the maximum number of sporting successes for our team. I remain at your entire disposal for what you consider appropriate, always with the aim of seeking the best for our national team, ”concludes the emphatic letter of each player who advanced to the SER.

unprecedented ordeal

This type of plan, unprecedented in the history of Spanish football, has caused a new earthquake in the women’s team that puts President Rubiales and Jorge Vilda on the ropes at the crossroads. The situation is very delicate. If they give in to the claims of the soccer players, the federative rectors will have set a very serious precedent. And if they keep the pulse with the large group of international players, the level of Spain will suffer and each concentration will take place with an unbreathable atmosphere.

The fifteen soccer players have launched a written ordeal that still goes far beyond what happened at the beginning of the month, when the vast majority of the players summoned for the duels against Hungary and Ukraine demanded the dismissal of the coach. Jorge Vilda appeared, then the captains separately and apparently there was a commitment from both parties with Rubiales to dialogue, improve what was done wrong and reverse the situation. However, far from closing, the gap has widened and is bleeding.

This group of fifteen rebels is made up of six Barcelona players: Patri Guijarro, Sandra Paños, Mapi León, Claudia Pina, Aitana Bonmatí and Mariona Caldentey. Ainhoa ​​Moraza and Lola Gallardo from Atlético de Madrid join the hard core of the azulgrana; Nerea Eizaguirre and Amaiur Sarriegi from the Royal Society; Leila Ouahabi and Laia Aleixandri, from Manchester City; Ona Batlle and Lucía García, from Manchester United and Andrea Pereira from Club América from Mexico.

astonishment and anger

However, no Real Madrid player is on that list, despite the fact that eight attended Jorge Vilda’s last call, nor are the Barcelona players Alexia Putellas, injured in the knee for the entire season, and Irene Paredes, who She is also captain of the national team and acted as spokesperson in the previous threat of mutiny. Neither does Jennifer Hermoso, the other great Spanish soccer player, although she now plays for the Mexican Pachuca.

The Federation does not leave its astonishment, perplexity and anger at this attitude of the soccer players. He insists that he will not admit “any kind of pressure” and confirms his support for the coach. “These types of maneuvers are far from exemplary and outside the values ​​of football and sport and are harmful,” he said in a statement.

In addition, the entity that controversially governs Luis Rubiales warns that not attending the call of a selection can be punished with a sanction of between two and five years of disqualification, although he clarifies that it will not reach that extreme. He emphasizes, in any case, that those players who are committed “even if they are youthful” will be called.

Ask for forgiveness

“This fact has gone from being a sporting issue to a dignity issue. The selection is non-negotiable. It is an unprecedented situation in the history of football, both male and female, in Spain and worldwide, “underlines the federation, which, in addition, makes explicit its conditions for the unruly athletes to return with La Roja. “The soccer players who have submitted their resignation will only return to the discipline of the national team in the future if they accept their mistake and ask for forgiveness.”

It so happens that the confrontation takes place a week before Vilda announces a new call for the national team for the friendlies against Sweden (October 7) at the Nuevo Arcángel stadium in Córdoba and the United States, four days later, at the Sadar of Pamplona. In addition, the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand next summer is also on the horizon, specifically from July 20 to August 20. Ana Álvarez, director of women’s soccer of the FEF, has already anticipated, with a certain irony, that the wishes of the rebels will be fulfilled and they will not be included in that list.

There are still chapters of conflicts to be written in this strange and unpublished history, but each new line that is known supposes another blur and, what is even more serious, a step backwards in the sustained growth and social effervescence that women’s football had experienced in Spain in recent years.

Megan Rapinoe.

Rapinoe supports the wayward

Megan Rapinoe, probably the most mediatic soccer player in the world, has shared a message on her Instagram ‘stories’ to show her support for the fifteen players who have resigned from the Spanish team after Luis Rubiales did not accept the dismissal of coach Jorge Vilda .

“You have a sixteenth player standing next to you in the United States,” Rapinoe shared with her more than 2.2 million followers on this social network.